Plum Cake is a traditional Christmas cake made with lot of dry fruits and nuts. Classic Plum Cake also known as traditional Fruit Cake is a great holiday dessert. Christmas Fruit Cake is a popular cake and can be baked at home effortlessly and quickly. Plum Cake is a soft moist delicious irresistible treat for Christmas that you can try!
Christmas is round the corner and this year again I wanted to bake this Easy Plum Cake. Plum Cake is one of the best edible gifts that you can send across your loved ones. I have tried many versions of fruit cakes and plum cakes during my initial days of baking and finally this version is my most favorite.
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About Plum Cake
Traditional Plum Cake involves a lot of work and time as we need to soak the dry fruits in alcohol prior to baking and let it mature. But this Easy Christmas Plum Cake requires no soaking, no alcohol, you don’t even need to wait for butter to come to room temperature, no creaming of butter and sugar, no need to beat eggs until fluffy yes you heard it right – does that sound interesting?
Yes this Plum Cake Recipe is one of the easiest that you can try. You just need to boil the dry fruits along with spices in water for few minutes and it is ready. The only time it takes is for it to cool down and the baking time.
Christmas is the season for more cakes and bakes and kids enjoy homemade baked goodies so much that I am excited to bake more often. I baked this cake and we all loved the aroma and texture of this cake.
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Even though this cake does not use alcohol still it turns out moist and delicious. This is one of the Rich British Plum Cake recipes that I’ve tried so far. This recipe makes a 8 inch round cake.
Plum Cake is also known as Fruit Cake or Christmas Cake. Plum Cakes are popular all over India especially Kerala. Nowadays it has become a tradition in Tamil Nadu too as I have seen many baking plum cakes for Christmas. The best thing about Plum Cake is that you can customize the dry fruits as you like it.
Boiling the dry fruits plumps them up which makes it nice and juicy. The natural sweetness from the dry fruits reduces the amount of sugar added. Recipe adapted from : Joyofbaking
Plum Cake Ingredients
- Flour – Maida or plain flour is best suited for this plum cake. All purpose flour can also be used.
- Sugar – I have used granulated white sugar. You can either use brown sugar or white sugar for this recipe.
- Dry fruits – I have used black raisins, golden raisins, tutti frutti, dates, candied fruits, nuts etc.
- Eggs – Eggs are used for the cake to make it fluffy and gives structure to this cake.
- Butter – Butter helps in making the cake soft and moist. I have used unsalted butter but you can use salted butter and skip salt.
- Flavoring – Spice powders including cinnamon powder, cloves powder and ginger powder is used. Additionally vanilla essence is also used.
Plum Cake Recipe Step by Step
Boiling the fruits mixture
1.To a sauce pan – add 1 cup water, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup butter.
2.Add in 1 cup black raisins, 1/8 cup golden raisins, 1/8 cup dates, and 1/2 cup candied dry fruits along with 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon ginger powder and 1/2 teaspoon clove powder.
3.Give a quick mix.
4.Boil gently for 5 minutes.
5.Partially cover and set aside to cool down. It will take at least 30-40 minutes to cool down.
6.Beat 2 eggs using a fork and set aside.
Preparing flour mixture
7.To another bowl add 1 and 1/2 cups flour along with 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
8.Whisk it well for even mixing and set it aside.
Preparing caramel
9.To a small pan add 2 tablespoon granulated white sugar.
10.Heat it up and leave it undisturbed in few seconds sugar will start to melt.
11.Now swirl the pan until sugar melts completely.
12.Add 2 tablespoon water to it. It will splutter so be a safe distance.
13.Stir well until it becomes runny.
14.Caramel syrup is ready. This gives the deep brown color so I would recommend adding caramel syrup.
Preparing the cake tin
15.Prepare the cake tin – Take a 8 inch round cake tin and lay parchment paper for the base and brush with melted butter on the base and sides well.
Preparing cake batter
16.Add the boiled fruit mixture to a mixing bowl – by now it must have cooled. Now add the caramel syrup.
17.Add 1 teaspoon orange zest to it. Mix it well using a spatula.
18.Add beaten eggs to it.
19.Mix well.
20.Add 1/4 cup tutti frutti and 2 tablespoon cashews.
21.Preheat oven at 180 DEG C for 10 minutes. Add the flour mixture to it.
22.Fold in gently until no dry flour is seen. Once flour mixture is added do not over mix.
Baking the cake
23.Transfer the cake batter to the prepared tin.
24.Bake in preheated oven at 180 DEG C for 50-60 minutes. Check after 50 minutes by inserting a toothpick in the center if it comes out clean then the cake is done.
25.Baked and ready – Cool down the cake for 15 mins in the cake pan then scrape the sides using a knife.
26.Invert and de-mold.
27.Remove the parchment paper.
28. Cool down the cake completely then cut into pieces.
29.Moist plum cake is ready!
30.Plum cake is ready to serve!
Expert Tips
- You can use any dry fruits and nuts of your choice. But do not overload for 1.5 cups flour you can add from 2 cups to maximum 3 cups dry fruits.
- Do not skip caramel syrup as it gives nice deep brown color and flavor to the cake.
- Do not add more nuts.
- The caramel syrup tends to thicken once made so do not give more resting time.
- Do not over bake as the cake might turn hard. Bake until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Instead of boiling the dry fruits mixture in water you can replace water with orange juice and skip orange zest.
- Add more of black raisins for a perfect tasting plum cake. You can even add prunes.
- If you want to make a low fat bake then skip caramel part and add 3/4 cup sugar and try with whole wheat flour with the same measures for other ingredients.
Storing & Serving Suggestion
Plum Cake tastes great on its own as it is loaded with dry fruits and nuts. This cake keeps well for 3-4 days in room temperature itself. You can store in fridge and extend the shelf life for few more days.
FAQS
1.What dry fruits can I add for Plum Cake?
Black raisins, golden raisins, candied fruit peels, candied dry fruits, tutti frutti, prunes, cashews etc.
2.How much dry fruits to add?
For 1 and 1/2 cups flour you can add dry fruits ranging from 2 cups to maximum 3 cups. Do not add more than 3 cups.
3.What is the difference between Fruit Cake and Plum cake?
Fruit Cake can be made with or without soaking dry fruits, it is basically a vanilla flavored fruit cake. A fruit cake is light brown in color.
Plum Cake is made by soaking or boiling dry fruits and is deep brown in color.Caramel syrup is added to plum cake for a great flavor and color.
4.How will I know if my plum cake is done?
Bake for 50 minutes then check by inserting a toothpick in the center of the cake, if it comes out clean or with crumbs then you cake is ready. If the batter still sticks bake for few more minutes accordingly. Mine took exactly 60 minutes.
5.What makes Plum Cake unique?
Plum Cake is usually made with a lot of dry fruits and nuts soaked in alcohol for days or even months. So this gives it a unique flavor, taste and we have achieved this by boiling the dry fruits and it is such a mess-free and easy cake to make for Christmas!
If you have any more questions about this Plum Cake Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this Plum Cake Recipe? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Plum Cake Recipe | Easy Christmas Fruit Cake
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/2 teaspoon clove powder
- 1 teaspoon orange zest grated
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Dry fruits & Nuts
- 1 cup black raisins
- 1/2 cup candied fruits
- 1/4 cup tutti frutti
- 1/8 cup dates
- 1/8 cup golden raisins
- 2 tablespoon cashews chopped
Caramel Syrup
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
- To a sauce pan – add 1 cup water, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup butter.
- Add in 1 cup black raisins, 1/8 cup golden raisins, 1/8 cup dates, and 1/2 cup candied dry fruits along with 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 teaspoon ginger powder and 1/2 teaspoon clove powder.
- Give a quick mix.
- Boil gently for 5 minutes.
- Partially cover and set aside to cool down. It will take at least 30-40 minutes to cool down.
- Beat 2 eggs using a fork and set aside.
- To another bowl add 1 and 1/2 cups flour along with 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- Whisk it well for even mixing and set it aside.
- To a small pan add 2 tablespoon granulated white sugar.
- Heat it up and leave it undisturbed in few seconds sugar will start to melt.
- Now swirl the pan until sugar melts completely.
- Add 2 tablespoon water to it.
- Stir well until it becomes runny.
- Caramel syrup is ready. This gives the deep brown color so I would recommend adding caramel syrup.
- Prepare the cake tin – Take a 8 inch round cake tin and lay parchment paper for the base and brush with melted butter on the base and sides well.
- Add the boiled fruit mixture to a mixing bowl – by now it must have cooled. Now add the caramel syrup.
- Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoon orange zest to it. Mix it well using a spatula.
- Add beaten eggs to it.
- Mix well.
- Add 1/4 cup tutti frutti and 2 tablespoon cashews.
- Preheat oven at 180 DEG C for 10 minutes. Add the flour mixture to it.
- Fold in gently until no dry flour is seen. Once flour mixture is added do not over mix.
- Transfer the cake batter to the prepared tin.
- Bake in preheated oven at 180 DEG C for 50-60 minutes. Check after 50 minutes by inserting a toothpick in the center if it comes out clean then the cake is done.
- Baked and ready – Cool down the cake for 15 mins in the cake pan then scrape the sides using a knife.
- Invert and de-mold.
- Remove the parchment paper.
- Cool down the cake completely then cut into pieces.
- Moist plum cake is ready! Plum cake is ready to serve!
Notes
- You can use any dry fruits and nuts of your choice. But do not overload for 1.5 cups flour you can add from 2 cups to maximum 3 cups dry fruits.
- Do not skip caramel syrup as it gives nice deep brown color and flavor to the cake.
- Do not add more nuts.
- The caramel syrup tends to thicken once made so do not give more resting time.
- Do not over bake as the cake might turn hard. Bake until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Instead of boiling the dry fruits mixture in water you can replace water with orange juice and skip orange zest.
- Add more of black raisins for a perfect tasting plum cake. You can even add prunes.
- If you want to make a low fat bake then skip caramel part and add 3/4 cup sugar and try with whole wheat flour with the same measures for other ingredients.
indianspicemagic
Yummy cake recipes….
Sandhya
Great cake! Hard to go wrong with this recipe. I tried this recipe few times with some changes – added 1 tsp nutmeg powder and reduced cinnamon powder by half( found the cinnamon to be a tad bit over powering for my taste in the recipe) doubled the cashew nuts, skipped tutti fruiti since it wasn’t available ( Instead used cranberries, plums, apricots)
Does the egg substitute (flax egg) work ?
Sharmilee J
Thank you for the feedback!
Sorry haven’t tried egg substitutes for this recipe.
Andrew
This is just an excellant, moist, rich cake. I used dried wild plums, soaked in blackberry brandy, for the fruit and replaced the golden raisins with more black. Left out the tutti frutti.
manjooo
that looks so appealing…loved it 🙂
Vimitha Anand
Cake looks so yummy… Loving the texture
Lavi Raj
Yum plum cake with loads of dry fruits and nuts! pass me a slice..
Sharanya
i ll definitely try dis
divya
wow… fabulous looking cake…
DeepthiDigvijay
looks awesome!
Maha Gadde
beautiful cake n pics….
If gets sumtime plz check out my space n new FB page dear.If u clik on follow n like I may feel happy…Hope u vl..Thanx in advance.
Maha
Nalini's Kitchen
cake looks yummy and loved the eggless version..
Aparna Maheshkartick
Wow.was lukig for a eggless version n got it from u.thank.wl try n let u know.
Geetha
The cake looks yum. I will try this.
Krithi Karthi
Looks like a keeper recipe Sharmi… Thanks for sharing.. and the tips too..
Gauri
Looks great.. a generous slice with some ice cream or hot chocolate is just something I would like now 🙂
Chitra
I too tried from divine taste and posted in my blog..Looks very nice sharmi 🙂
Lorraine Joy Alegria-Vizcarra
The cake looks wonderful.
Archy
Wow.. Eggless plum cake, looks so yummy!! Will try for sure !!
APARNARAJESHKUMAR
its good that u didnt add the rum ! i do not prefer the rum version ! this is lovely !
Apu
Looks so festive! Loving it!!
Sangeetha Priya
wow wow perfectly done…gr8 festive treat!!!
kausers kitchen
Wow cake looks great…luvly clicks.
RAKS KITCHEN
I love this cake, looks tempting and the pics bright, colourful and sharp
Leena
Cake looking very festive…use of mashed potatoes is very unique.thnks for sharing…
Victoria Grant
looks moist & delicious,love your cake
Freight Guru Co
Kirthi Alevoor
came very good.Thanks for the recipee!
Muthukaruppi Meyyappan
Hi sharmi..
Thanks for this recipe…I wanted to try this for a very long time, but all those plum cakes i saw in you tube had alcohol in it….I luv the way it looks…tell me onething..What is dermerara sugar? is that brown sugar?
SHARMILEE J
Yes it is brown in color…
Teesha
Hi Sharmi,
I tied this cake over the weekend and trust me, it came as one of the best cake that I have ever made.
Thanks a ton for such a great assistance.
je
Hi Sharmi, Can you post Plum cake with egg version for this christmas.
SHARMILEE J
Sure planning to try it soon
sri
thanks for so yummy recipie…searching for easy cake recipe n got it in my fav blog 🙂
can i replace damerara sugar or brown sugar with white sugar?
can u please try baking cake in pressure cooker for this xmas…:) 🙂
SHARMILEE J
Yes you can replace it with white sugar
I have a plan to try that but lets see if time has other plans for me 🙂
Sachu
I made this more than once and it comes out really well. Thanks a lot.
suja
Can you post some eggless,butter less,wheat cake recipes.looking for healthy recipes!!
SHARMILEE J
Yeah sure will do!
subhaoh
Looks so fabulous. I've been eyeing a good egg-less plum cake recipe to try and urs looks so tempting.
tell me onething, Can we try this in the pressure cooker?
and how does the steamed plum cake sound? will this recipe work for both the method.
SHARMILEE J
I am not sure, you can try and see
Princess
Hii sharmilee,is the butter salted or unsalted? can u tell me amount of butter in grams? And can I replace butter with oil?
SHARMILEE J
It is unsalted butter, I didnt measure so cudnt give the gm measure.No the taste will differ if you add oil
Mary A
I tried this recipe during Christmas and it really worked out well for me. Mine Cake was super delicious. Thanks Sharmi
Indian Bakers
Looking forward to bake this for Christmas. Thanks for the recipe. The Christmas cake looks perfect
Lakshmi
It came out really well..thank you so much for your detailed recipe..I did in pressure cooker n got baked accurately in your time limit..
Monica Wong
Hi there, love your straightforward recipe.
For an alcoholic version, in the boiling process, could I replace 1 cup of water with 1 cup of rum? (along with the butter and sugar as stated)
Many thanks,
Monica
Sharmilee J
You can try but I am not sure of the outcome as I have not tried the alcoholic version.
Goutham krishna
This plum cake looks so rich and festive! At CakeBee, our slow-baked version with soaked fruits and spices is a seasonal favorite.